Hachiko Memorial Statue Photos Share a Timeless Story

Hachiko's loyalty is a testament to the enduring power of love and friendship.

The statue of Hachiko, a loyal Akita dog, has become an iconic symbol of loyalty and dedication.

Located in front of Shibuya Station in Tokyo, Japan, the statue is a popular tourist destination.

Visitors from all over the world come to pay their respects to Hachiko and his owner, Ueno Hidesaburo.

Here's an interesting read: Hachiko True Story of a Loyal Dog

Hachiko was adopted by Professor Eizaburo Ueno of Tokyo University in the early 1920s in Akita prefecture.

The two became inseparable, with Hachiko accompanying his master to Shibuya Station each day for work at Tokyo's Imperial University.

Hachiko would return to the station at 3pm each afternoon to greet Ueno upon his return.

The professor sadly died in 1925 while at the university, never returning for a final goodbye with his pet.

Hachiko continued to visit the station daily for nearly 10 years after Ueno's death.

He was cremated and buried next to his beloved owner after his own death made headlines.

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A small statue was erected in front of Shibuya Station to commemorate Hachiko, which is now a typical starting point for visitors and a convenient meeting point for friends and tour groups.

Locals and foreigners alike queue for photos with the statue, just meters away from Shibuya's popular Scramble Crossing.

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You can find Hachiko statues in several locations throughout Tokyo. A bronze statue was erected at Shibuya Station in April 1934, but it was recycled during World War II.

In 1948, a new statue was made by Takeshi Ando, the son of the original artist, and it still stands today. This statue is a popular meeting spot and the station entrance near it is named "Hachikō-guchi", meaning "The Hachikō Entrance/Exit".

If you're visiting Shibuya Station, you can take a photo in front of this iconic statue, which is one of Shibuya Station's five exits.

There's a Hachiko statue in front of Tower Records in Shibuya, erected to commemorate the 20th anniversary of its relocation.

Hachiko's fur was preserved and later stuffed, and it's now on display at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo's Ueno Park.

You can also find a Hachiko Family Mural on the wall of the station opposite the original statue, created by artist Ryutaro Kitahara.

A Hollywood movie called Hachi: A Dog's Story was made in 2009, starring Richard Gere, and is essentially an English language remake of the original Japanese film Hachiko Monogatari.

In 2015, a new statue of Hachiko was dedicated in the grounds of the University of Tokyo, imagining a joyous reunion between Hachiko and his owner Ueno.

The original Hachiko statue is still standing, a testament to the enduring legacy of this loyal dog.

At Shibuya Station, a bronze statue of Hachiko stands near the station entrance, known as "Hachikō-guchi". This statue was erected in August 1948 by Takeshi Ando, the son of the original artist Teru Ando.

It's a popular meeting spot and one of the station's five exits. You can find it easily by looking for the crowd of people taking photos in front of the statue.

A similar statue was built in Hachiko's hometown, in front of Ōdate Station, in 1932.

Hachiko was adopted by Professor Eizaburo Ueno in Akita prefecture in the early 1920s.

The two formed a strong bond, with Hachiko accompanying his master to Shibuya Station every day for work.

Hachiko would return to the station daily at 3pm to greet Ueno upon his return.

Hachiko continued to visit the station daily for nearly 10 years after Ueno's death in 1925.

His loyalty and dedication to Ueno made headlines, and he was eventually cremated and buried next to his beloved owner.

Hachi's life took a dramatic turn in 1925 when he was suddenly separated from his owner, Professor Ueno, just 16 months after being taken charge of.

On May 21, Hachi accompanied Ueno to the station as usual, but the professor suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and died, aged 53.

Hachi's loyalty was put to the test as he waited for his master to return, but it soon became clear that he would not be coming back.

Hachi went to the station in the evening to greet the professor, returning home after he failed to appear, and somehow sensing his master was in trouble, he grew sullen and refused food for three days.

After the move, Hachi sometimes tried to return to Shibuya Station, eight kilometers away, showing his determination to be with his master.

He later lived with relations in Asakusa, then with Yae in Setagaya, but he never stopped trying to reach Shibuya.

Saitō Hirokichi, a Japanese man, was deeply moved by Hachi's loyalty and wrote an article about it in 1932.

His writing helped spread Hachi's story to people in Japan and abroad, who were concerned about the dog's well-being as he grew old and weary.

Locals called for a statue to be built in Hachi's honor, and in 1934, volunteers started collecting money for the cause.

A bronze statue of Hachi, 162 centimeters high, was built outside the Shibuya Station entrance on a 180-centimeter pedestal.

Hachi was even present at the statue's unveiling on April 21, 1934.

Many people, including children and Shibuya Station staff, came to pay their respects at Hachi's funeral on March 12, where his remains were interred alongside Professor Ueno's grave in Aoyama Cemetery.

Hachi's preserved pelt is displayed at the National Science Museum of Japan in Ueno, Tokyo, and a gravestone still stands in his honor alongside Professor Ueno's in Aoyama Cemetery.

Hachiko was born in Ōdate, Akita Prefecture, some 600 kilometers from Shibuya.

The Akita-inu is a breed designated as a “natural monument” by the Agency for Cultural Affairs.

Hachiko was one of an Akita-inu litter born in November 1923 to dogs belonging to a farmer named Saitō Yoshikazu.

The breed is said to have originated in the 1630s through cross-breeding of Matagi hunting dogs with local dogs to raise animals that were good at fighting.

Ueno Hidesaburō, a professor in the Department of Agriculture at Tokyo Imperial University, acquired Hachiko from a student who had obtained the dog from Saitō Yoshikazu.

The professor was looking for a purebred Japanese dog for himself, and Hachiko fit the bill.

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